The first religious conference called Samavasarana' at
which the master gave his first sermon was held on the bank of
river Ujjuvaliya (Rjubalika). This discourse remained unfruitful
in the sense that nobody came forth to take Samnyasa. However,
the second discourse at Pava was most successful. As we shall
notice hereafter Indrabhuti Gautam had a debate with the master
on the existence of self'. As he was satisfied he became
the first disciple of note. His hundred of pupils also became
Mahavira's disciples. Story of Indrabhuti's conversion went round
with the result that ten other Brahmins learned in Vedas came to
the master and had discourses with him on various subjects, now
forming core of Jainism. They all became his disciples. These
eleven are called Ganadharas as they were appointed as the first
heads of different groups of monks. Mahavira survived all of then
except the first Ganadhara Indrabhuti Gautam and the fifth one
Sudharma. It is significant that all these first principal
disciples were Brahmins of great repute and learning which shows
that the silent ideological revolution had already started in the
intelligentsia of the time.